Yi Song

Chapter 52 The sophisticated Cai Jing and the mysterious Fang Tianbao
  Cai Tiao knelt on the ground and kowtowed.

"My son is in trouble for his father!"

Cai Jing took off his tortoise-shell crystal glasses (glasses) and placed them on the table next to him along with the book. "Fifth brother, tell me."

"Dad, my son was misled a long time ago about the incident in Southeast. They used to practice honesty and honesty, and they used silk merchants as reality, but we found nothing. Later, we followed the clues and caught Wang Jinghe, and then we found out, In Danyang, the real and the false may be easily changed, the silk merchants are false, but Fengcheng is the real."

Cai Ji lowered his head and replied.

"False and true, if these scholars don't read the books of sages properly, why don't they read military books? So, have you caught the truth of Fengcheng?" Cai Jing continued to ask.

Cai Chi's Adam's apple moved up and down, lowered his head and answered honestly: "Fengcheng is dead."

"Did you use Lao Tong's residence as a guard to carry out a masked attack and silence him?"

Cai Ji didn't dare to say anything.

"Well, you, Marquis Wu, are reincarnated, and you have no plans left, but you killed the last clue, haha." Cai Jing laughed a few times, and then said, "You admire Marquis Wu the most, and learn from Marquis Wu in everything. Marquis Wu is cautious all his life. , when have you ever been cautious? Marquis Wu lives in a corner of Western Shu, unable to advance or retreat, and has been in embarrassment for half his life. Do you want to do the same? "

Facing his father's questions, Cai Wei could only kowtow repeatedly.

"I am old and can no longer protect myself from the wind and rain. You are all independent, clinging to each other, clinging to each other, forming cliques, and each is busy with your own affairs. Don't you know? Your surname is Cai, and I am the same. It's connected by one root. If I break it, can you be cured?"

Cai Chi raised his head and said in fear: "Dad, my son is incompetent and has caused trouble for his father."

"Causing trouble? Alas, children are the debts of their parents in their previous lives! Tell me, you guys have been plotting for so many days and have killed many people. You have also caused such unprecedented absurd things as Jialan Temple and Yujin Garden. What are you going to find? what?"

Cai Chi lowered his head and replied: "It is the conclusive evidence collected by the Southeastern scholars that Dad, Tong Taiwei and Zhu Meng formed a clique for personal gain, used Hua Shi Gang to make money, extorted money, and took advantage of the situation to bring disaster to the local area."

"Haha, haha, my idiot, my idiot!" Cai Jing couldn't help but raised his head and laughed. He held the armrests of the seat with both hands to stand up, but he was too old and frail to use the strength.

Cai Chi knelt down for a few steps, rushed to him, and lifted his father up.

Cai Jing stood up and squeezed Cai Ji's left shoulder with his left hand.

I walked slowly to the window, which was half open, and the plantains and rockeries outside were half hidden and half visible.

The sound of running water in the distant pool made a splash.

With his hands behind his back and looking at the scenery, Cai Jing didn't speak for a long time.

Cai Chi knelt in front of the armchair, lowered his head and said nothing.

"Fifth brother, you can coax others with your words, but you can't coax me. As a father, you have experienced ups and downs. Why?
  Because my father can manage money and amass wealth from all over the world, the official family can be extremely extravagant, build palaces extensively, build the Long Live Mountain, and expand the land in the northwest.

Because my father can control the government and suppress party disputes, there will no longer be quarrels between you and me in the court. Only then can the official family enjoy cultural gatherings, banquets, and Taoist rituals with peace of mind.

Therefore, no matter how bad his reputation as a father is, and no longer tolerated by the ruling and opposition parties, the officials can only accept it with pinched noses. Fifth Brother, the evidence you mentioned, no matter how conclusive, cannot hurt me in the slightest. Do you know why? "

Cai Chi hesitated for a while and replied: "Because most of the money and silk are used by the officials for their enjoyment."

"Look, you're not stupid." Cai Jing pointed at Cai Ji and laughed.

He turned around and walked a few steps, then came back and stood in front of the desk.

"My father is old and has only a few years to live. You are still young and planning your own future. It is human nature and I will not stop you as a father. I know what you are planning with them, but I don't want to know.

Fifth brother, I just want to tell you that there are some things you can do and some things you cannot do. The idea of ​​being a minister is completely different from the idea of ​​the king. You must remember it in the future. Don't think that you have a clever plan, but it violates the official taboo. "

Cai Jing patted a stack of letters on the desk, "I have sent a secret message to Daofu (Tong Guan). Soon, Xie San's group will be transferred back to the northwest, and no one will be able to see them in the future."

Cai Ji suddenly raised his head and said with a pale face: "My son should not secretly transfer the bodyguards of Lieutenant Tong to stay at home."

"Fifth brother, please remember, for these elites of the Western Army, it is one thing to be a guard of honor, it is one thing to be a guard rider in a life-and-death gambling game, but it is another thing to cover up and kill people in the capital.

Forbidden soldiers, try not to touch them in the future! Some things are nothing more than two or three taels if they don't go on the scale, but if they go on the scale, they won't weigh anything more than a thousand pounds. "

Cai Ji kowtowed and replied: "My son has remembered."

"This morning, I was on duty at the Baozhuan Palace of the Shangqing Dynasty. The officials complained to us, saying that the construction process of the Long Live Mountain was slow and that they might not be able to catch up with the auspicious date. They were very dissatisfied. I replied that the Kaifeng government was worried about the official reputation. The first was the ineffectiveness of recruiting and recruiting the people. The second was the sedimentation of silt on the Bianhe River bed and the ineffective dredging of Kaifeng Prefecture, which made it difficult to transport wood and stone from the southeast.

Mr. Yuan Miao had benefited from me a few days ago and immediately echoed a few words. The officials were furious and immediately passed down the imperial pen to depose Xue Rugui, except him as the deputy envoy of Lizhou Tuanlian, and handed it over to Chenzhou for supervision.

The imperial pen has been handed over to Zhongshu Province, and Xue Rugui will be escorted to Chenzhou soon. Jinghu South Road has high mountains and long roads, and the folk customs are tough. You may encounter bandits on the road and die. "

Cai Chi immediately responded: "Dad, my son will make arrangements immediately so that Xue Rugui will not be allowed to reach Chenzhou alive."

Cai Jing waved his hand, "Get up. The ground is cold. Kneeling for a long time is bad for your knees. Fifth brother, remember, your father is Cai Gongxiang. Don't be so groveling when asking for help in the future."

Cai Ji burst into tears, choked with sobs and nodded, "Son, I remember."

Liu Guozhang and Yue Fei returned to Tokyo and walked north along the bustling Xiangguosi East Street.

As soon as I reached an intersection, I was pulled over by someone next to me.

"Liu Erlang, I finally found you!"

Liu Guozhang turned around and saw that it was Yuan Dongjia. His face was full of joy. Wang Buddha stood behind him, smiling and gesturing. “Yuan Dongjia, what a coincidence, I met you here.”

"Yeah, what a coincidence, God's will, God's will. Let's go have a few drinks." Yuan Dongjia took Liu Erlang and went to the nearby Xixi Restaurant to have a few drinks.

"Who is this little brother?" Yuan Dongjia asked curiously.

"Brother Chen Guang's disciple, Yue Fei and Yue Pengju."

"Brother Fei, let's go and have a few drinks together."

Liu Guozhang couldn't resist and went with him.

I asked for a private room on the second floor of Xixi Restaurant. The four of them sat down, and Yuan Dongjia kept talking.

"Ah, Erlang, it's been more than a month since I left Caihe."

"Correct."

"This month, I have been busy with worldly affairs, but I have also heard about Erlang's heroic deeds. The killing of Yang Shutou on the street, Jialan Temple, and today's Yujin Garden are really exciting. I just hate these two days. I have something to do, so I can't go to Yujin Garden in person to witness Erlang leaping on his horse and holding a spear."

The news is really well-informed.

Liu Guozhang suddenly asked: "Is Yuan Dong's real name Fang?"

Yuan Dongjia was stunned for a moment, then hesitantly replied: "Exactly, it's Tianbao below. I have some scruples when I'm away from home, so I act under a pseudonym. Please forgive Erlang."

"Is Brother Fang related to the wealthy man from Qingxi County, Muzhou, Western Zhejiang Province, other than member Fang La?"

Fang Tianbao's face froze, and Wang Buddha's expression instantly became tense.

"Fang Yuanwai and I are of the same race, and we didn't have much contact in the past." Fang Tianbao denied it.

Haha, I believe you.

"How did Erlang know about Fang Yuanwai?" Fang Tianbao stared at Liu Guozhang with sharp eyes.

"Didn't I say it before? I grew up in Mingzhou, and Zhejiang and Zhejiang are only so big, so of course I know."

"Mingzhou? Mingzhou can't raise a man like Erlang who is an expert in archery and cavalry, and unparalleled in swords and guns." Fang Tianbao said hehely.

"Brother Fang, I vaguely remember that since I was a child, I followed my elders to go to sea to do business, mostly in Northeast Korea. There are many Tatars there and the roads are not smooth. In order to make a safe living, I randomly learned some riding and archery skills from the masters there."

"Can Erlang remember things again?"

"Yes, but memory is like constipation, squeezed out little by little."

Fang Tianbao chuckled and asked again: "Erlang's skill in riding and shooting cannot be learned casually."

"Maybe I have good talent. I vaguely remember that the elders in the clan said that I was born with supernatural powers, and that I hate the sky and the earth. So I learned these things quickly."

"Hate the sky without a ring, hate the earth without a handle?" Fang Tianbao narrowed his eyes, "In Zhang Hui's words, Li Yuanba of the Sui and Tang Dynasties and Li Cunxiao of the Five Seasons, these two peerless generals, deserved this sentence. It's just these two who ended up in the end. It’s not very good.”

"Yes, those who are brave and foolhardy will not live long." Liu Guozhang laughed and asked, "What is Brother Fang busy with in Tokyo these days?"

Fang Tianbao laughed and said, "Discussing business with various merchants, medicinal materials from the northwest, fur from Shuodai, horns from Hedong, cinnabar from Xishu, and pigments from Hexi. I am busy dealing with business for my family."

"Oh, Brother Fang is still the contemporary Tao Zhugong. Can you ask me a question?"

"Erlang is actually interested in doing business?"

"I'm interested in making money. Please give me some advice, Brother Fang!"

"Easy to say, easy to say."

The four of them chatted and laughed happily, and after eating more, they left happily.

After leaving Xixi Tower and saying goodbye, Liu Guozhang took Yue Fei and walked for a while into the lively Ma Xing Street.

"Brother, what's wrong?"

"Someone is following us."

"How to do?"

"Bring them out."

Liu Guozhang took Yue Fei and turned into Dongzhao Street, where the number of people began to decrease. Turning into the adjacent Shuichu Lane, it was very deserted. Apart from Liu Guozhang and Yue Fei, there was no other person.

Suddenly, a group of people turned out from the corner of the alley, blocking the way of the two of them.

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(End of this chapter)